Shirley May Harrod

Shirley May (Romine) Harrod joined her husband Robert Lowell Harrod in heaven on April 23, 2025.  Services will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. MST at the Vale Christian Church, 450 A St. Vale, OR.  Shirley was born at her grandparents’ home in La Grande, OR on September 4, 1935. She was the 2nd of 4 children born to Oliver Russell and Carrie May (Houston) Romine. David was older; Gerald & Larry came later. At the time of her birth her family lived on a small ranch in Halfway, OR. Oliver also worked at the Cornucopia gold mine.   When the mine shut down during World War II, the Romines moved to Portland where Oliver worked in the shipyards.  In the summer of 1943, during an outbreak of polio in their housing project, the family moved to La Grande where Oliver found work on the railroad. Shirley & David started 1st grade the same year & went all through school in the same grade, graduating in 1953.  Then David went to Korea & Shirley went to college at EOC where she met Bob Harrod, son of William Earl and Edith (Garman) Harrod, during 2nd term. They were engaged by the end of their freshman year. Shirley secured a job at the telephone company as an operator.  Shirley and Bob were married at the Christian Church in La Grande on Sept. 12, 1954. Bob signed up for the draft when he turned 18 but got a deferment to go to college.  In February 1957, he joined the Army National Guard. In June 1957 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education & left the next day for 6 months of basic training at Ft. Ord, CA.  He returned to a new baby son, Robert Jr.  and a new job teaching/coaching in Harper, OR.  After 2 years, he spent 5 years at Vale Elementary.  During this 7-year time period, he attended summer school in La Grande to secure a master’s degree.  Shirley was able to work at her former job at the telephone company. She started work in Dr. Dorin Daniels’ office in Vale in 1958, resigning in1961 when the Harrod's daughter, Lynn Ann, was born. On July 17, 1964, during Bob's last summer of school in La Grande, his parents were killed in an airplane accident, leaving 2 younger siblings at home. Larry (15) and Sherri (11) went to live with Bob & Shirley.  Bob received his master’s degree a month later in August 1964, which qualified him to apply for a new position as Malheur County School Supervisor. He served in that position for 25 years while Shirley worked as secretary at Vale Elementary for 21 years. She was active in the community serving in the PTA , on the election board as Precinct Committee Woman, on the Vale Mural Society and in the Thalian Club. Shirley was a member and of the Vale Christian Church. She was an active member of the Women’s Council and the New Church Building Committee. She taught Sunday School, Released Time classes and VBS. She also helped with the “Jesus & Me” (JAM) program.  She and Bob worked with the high school youth group. She most enjoyed taking the kids to church camp where she and Bob both taught classes and she helped in the kitchen. After they retired, they spent 28 winters in Indio, CA. They attended the Coachella Valley Christian Church where Bob was an elder & Shirley was a deaconess.  They were also on the planning committee for the activities for the “Young at Heart” group (over 55).  They met many “Forever Friends” there.  They were also in charge of the Sunday night services in their park.  Shirley played the piano when needed.  They had wonderful friends there, too. Bob & Shirley were blessed & thrilled when their two children were born, but with the birth of the granddaughters (Tiffany, Dani, Rikki, and Kelly), they were doubly blessed.  When each granddaughter turned 5, Bob & Shirley took them to Disneyland. When the girls were all teenagers, they took them all again. When Lynn married Scott McKinney two step-grandsons, Nate & Brad, were added to their family. They also considered Shawn Sims and his family as bonus grandkids. After retirement Shirley had time to work on her genealogy & family history which eventually brought her to the gravesite of  her Great-Grandfather, John Romine, who died enroute to the Yukon Gold Rush in the late 1890's. None of his descendants knew exactly what had happened to him.  In August  1994 her three brothers and husband backpacked the Chilkoot Trail, which is now a National Park, & found the grave west of Long Lake BC, Canada.  It is the only grave located along the trail. Shirley petitioned the Canadian Govt. to place a marker at the site &, as part of the Yukon Gold Rush Centennial celebration in l997, seven descendants packed a bronze marker to the grave & a memorial service was held.  A TV Company from Toronto, Ontario filmed a documentary telling her story.    Shirley is survived by her son, Robert Harrod, Jr.; daughter, Lynn Ann & husband, Scott McKinney; sister-in-law, Ora “Skip” Romine; brothers & wives, Jerry & Patty Romine and Larry & Suzy Romine; granddaughters, Tiffany McLay & fiancé, Craig Smyth; Danielle & Josh Biggs and sons, Jack & Mason; Erika & James McElroy and son, Weston; Kelly & Kit Jones and children, Liam, Kate & Davis; two grandsons, Nathan  & Jessica McKinney and children, Nate, Jr., Bradee & Haylee; Brad McKinney & daughter, Mina; brothers-in-law, Tom & Carol Harrod and Larry & Kathy Harrod; sisters-in-law, Allison Steele, and Sherri & Dennis Hironaka. She is also survived by 14 nieces & nephews. Preceding Shirley in death was her husband of 67 years, Robert L. Harrod, her 4 Houston & Romine grandparents; her mother & father; brother, David Romine & his two sons, James & David; and a brother-in-law, Leon Steele. The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Gering, Heart and Home Hospice, and the staff at Wellsprings for their support and care. Memorials in Shirley’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Vale Christian Church Youth Programs (VCC- 450 A St. West - Vale, Oregon 97918.)  Visit Lienkaemper-Thomason.com for full obituary & to make condolences.  A livestream of the service will be available at youtube.com  Vale Christian Church.